Joyful Early Learning at Children’s Fairyland

From puppet shows to storybook sets and beloved animals, a recent Oakland Starting Smart and Strong (OSSS) site visit to Children’s Fairyland highlighted the power of joyful early learning experiences rooted in culture and community. 

​In April 2026, OSSS convened partners at one of Oakland’s oldest cultural institutions to continue conversations about the important role community spaces can play in supporting young children and families. The visit built on conversations from our March Task Force Meeting, where we explored ways to deepen connections between Oakland’s early learning and cultural communities.

The site visit brought together approximately 15 OSSS partners and provided a firsthand look at how Children’s Fairyland intentionally designs experiences for children 0-5 and their families. The afternoon began with food and refreshments, followed by welcoming remarks and an introduction to the park from CEO Kimberly Miller. After a brief Q&A, Senior Director of Education Vicky Chen led a thoughtful guided tour throughout the 10-acre park. Participants learned about Fairyland’s 75-year history and witnessed how children are encouraged to create, imagine, and play within this magical fantasy world. 

​Highlights of the tour included visits with the park’s beloved animals near the Jack & Jill Hill - miniature donkeys, chickens, goats and even a tortoise. As we explored the park’s whimsical sets and storybook spaces, we learned more about Fairyland’s early childhood programs, which emphasize language development, social-emotional learning and the celebration of cultural heritage and diversity. 

In alignment with its commitment to equity and access, the park offers affordable admission, with financial support enabling more than 4,000 low-income families to attend free each year. First 5 Alameda County contributes to this expanded access by providing funding for Magic Key memberships and admission tickets to Children’s Fairyland to help ensure that cultural learning, exploration, and play are available to families across Alameda County. 

The visit concluded with a delightful puppet show celebrating Puerto Rican heritage, bringing to life the rich culture, stories, and traditions that make early learning so powerful here in Oakland. As a special parting gift, attendees each received a one-of-a-kind limited-edition Fairyland key, which can be used to unlock stories from the park’s beloved Talking Story Boxes, and serve as a reminder of the imagination, connection, and joy that cultural institutions like Fairyland bring to Oakland children and families.

We look forward to continuing this important work and strengthening partnerships with institutions across the city to expand access to joyful, culturally rooted early learning experiences for all children and families.